Jo Cox’s sister warns that politicians are still forced to fear for their lives eight years after Labour MP’s murder by far-Right thug

Jo Cox’s sister said politicians still fear for their lives eight years after the attack Work MP was murdered by an extreme right-wing criminal.

Mrs Cox was stabbed and shot by a neo-Nazi thug in her constituency and home town of Batley, West Yorkshire, on June 16, 2016, just days before the EU referendum.

She was waiting outside the library where she had planned to meet her constituents for an operation when Thomas Mair shot her three times with a shotgun and stabbed her 15 times.

Mrs Cox was the first sitting MP to be assassinated since the end of the Troubles in Ireland. David Cameronwho was Prime Minister at the time, said Ms Cox was ‘a star for her constituents and a star in Parliament’.

Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater, who was elected MP for Batley and Spen in 2021, has said the toxicity in politics has not changed and continues to put MPs at risk.

Jo Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater said politicians still fear for their lives eight years after the Labor MP was murdered by a far-right thug.

Mrs Leadbeater said: ‘I find it hard to believe it has been eight years since my sister was murdered.

‘After Jo was murdered, politicians from all parties pledged to do politics differently, to ‘tone down’ the rhetoric and toxicity and focus on the issues that matter.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t always feel like that’s happened. Political campaigns and debates must of course be robust.

‘I am therefore saddened that a number of MPs have said they will not stand again in these elections, out of fear for their personal safety and that of their families and staff.’

MPs from all parties have decided to resign due to violent threats, according to a report by the Jo Cox Foundation.

Conservative MP Mark Lancaster said he would resign after death threats.

The former defense secretary said: “Today’s politics, with all its anger, abuse and in my own case two threats to my life, is not the politics we want or need for our great country.

Jo Cox was stabbed and shot by a neo-Nazi thug in her constituency and home town of Batley, West Yorkshire, on 16 June 2016, just days before the EU referendum.

“We have always been at our best and achieved most when we are able to express political differences through healthy debate and then unite as a community and as a country.

“I hope we can return to a place like that one day.”

Labor MP Apsana Begum spoke in the House of Commons about the threats of murder and sexual violence she has received and the abuse she has suffered because of her religion and gender.

She bravely told her fellow MPs: ‘I am currently facing death threats and a barrage of Islamophobic and misogynistic abuse.

‘I have received comments including, and I quote, ‘despicable and filthy religion, importing despicable and filthy beings like Apsana Begum’.

‘I am now facing an increased risk to my safety, with serious death threats, threats to kidnap me, threats of sexual violence and threats to remove my headscarf in public. It just goes on and on.’

Conservative MP Mark Lancaster said he would resign after death threats

Mhairi Black of the SNP is no longer standing for re-election because of the abuse she and her family have suffered.

The 29-year-old said: ‘Since 2015, the lives of my loved ones have been turned upside down and inside out.

“Between the media attention, the abuse on social media, the threats, the constant travel and the murder of two MPs, my loved ones were in a constant state of fear for my health and safety.”

Ms Leadbeater worries that good politicians are being ‘put off’ by all the abuse.

“Jo always told me we need good people in politics, and there are a lot of good people on the agenda for the 4th of July.

“But too many others are deterred by the abuse and intimidation to which politicians and others in public life are now routinely subjected,” she said. The sun.

Labor MP Apsana Begum spoke out in the House of Commons about the threats of murder and sexual violence she has received and the abuse she has suffered because of her religion and gender

Whatever the outcome, I hope that these elections can finally be the moment to set our politics on a new path.

‘Agree where we can and where not, discuss our differences of opinion with passion, but always with honesty and respect.

“That would be a fitting tribute to Jo and everything she stood for.”

Ahead of the eighth anniversary of Mrs Cox’s death, her husband has said she would have been “upset” if she had seen the election being used “to denigrate minorities and sow division”.

Brendan Cox said their children will celebrate the anniversary, and what would have been her upcoming 50th birthday, by performing a concert of her favorite songs.

Mhairi Black of the SNP is no longer standing for re-election because of the abuse she and her family have suffered

In a post on X, he said they will “remember everything she meant to us and to so many others.”

“Jo would hate to miss this election, and her chance to play a role in improving our country,” he said.

‘She believed passionately in the potential of politics. She would also find it a shame if some people wanted to use it to denigrate minorities and sow division.’

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to Ms Cox ahead of her anniversary.

“It’s a terrible anniversary,” he said.

‘Jo was a friend of mine, we came to Parliament on the same day.

“And I think the best thing we can take from this is Jo’s own words in her first speech, when she said, ‘We have much more in common than what divides us.’

“And that’s the spirit I think of this anniversary and what Jo wanted us to talk about today.”